Most Wonderful Thing In The World

Review Barrett's paintings are exquisitely dreamy and delicate. -- Amanda Craig ― The TimesVivian French is a sublime story-teller. ― The Sunday TelegraphExquisitely heartfelt ― The IndependentAngela Barrett’s breathtaking and nostalgic illustrations give life to an enchanting fairytale city full of subtle surprises while French’s masterful retelling of the magical story makes this a perfect wedding gift for true romantics. ― Lancashire Evening PostBarrett’s illustrations complement the story perfectly. They are rendered in watercolour. The detail is painstaking and gorgeous, from the braided mane of the snow white horse to the shimmering scales of the mermaid. In all of the illustrations, Barrett employs a palette of gentle colours, like colours from the edge of the rainbow. There are washed-out pinks, greens, blues, and beige. The overall effect is that of a world viewed the fuzzy lens of memory. The Most Wonderful Thing in the World is a joy. It is a lovely story and it is beautifully illustrated. ― Citizen Times...an enchanting tale set in a city full of subtle surprises. It is a touching fairytale that will delight young and old. ― The Guernsey Press and Star Product Description A funny and heart-warming fairy tale about our values by Vivian French, exquisitely illustrated by Angela Barrett.From the author of the Tiara Club series comes a gently satirical fairy story for our times, illustrated by one of today's finest artists, Angela Barrett. When a king and a queen promise to marry their daughter Lucia to the man who can show them the most wonderful thing in the world, suitors descend on the palace bearing gifts. Roses, jewels and exotic birds; dancing girls, wind machines and mythical beasts – but nothing feels quite right. As the last suitor leaves, his weapons of mass destruction rejected, the king and queen are exhausted. But when a shy, young man, who isn't a suitor at all, steps forward, they finally understand what the most wonderful thing in the world really is. Vivian French's masterful retelling of a forgotten story is both funny and heart-warming, and Angela Barrett's breathtaking illustrations give life to an enchanting and romantic fairytale city. About the Author A professional story-teller as well as an acclaimed children’s author who has written over 40 picture books and novels for Walker Books alone.Angela Barrett is widely regarded as one of this country’s finest illustrators. She won the 1989 Smarties Book Prize for Can It Be True? and the 1991 WH Smith Illustration Award for The Hidden House. In addition, she has been shortlisted three times for the Kurt Maschler Award and once for the Kate Greenaway Medal. Her other picture book titles include Beware Beware, The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Most Wonderful Thing in the World and the much acclaimed Beauty and the Beast.